Breast Cancer Orgs: Please Include The Protection (Literally) Right Under Our Noses!

This is a follow-up to my earlier post My Breast Cancer: Why I Won’t Race for the Cure, and one of several this month in honor of all the women who bear the physical and emotional scars of breast cancer — myself included. I hope that it further galvanizes people around the fight for PREVENTION, and inspires them to rethink the goal as THRIVING not just SURVIVING. Special thanks to Karin Cadwell, PhD, FAAN, RN, IBCLC and Executive Director of the Healthy Children Project/Center for Breastfeeding, and Diana Cassar-Uhl, IBCLC and La Leche League Leader, for providing the facts about breastfeeding’s amazing risk lowering effect on breast cancer.

The Scar Project by David Jay

Last week, a colleague pointed me to a powerful art show entitled SCAR Project – a series of nude, breathtaking, black-and-whites of women who, like me, have had bilateral mastectomies, but unlike me, have not been reconstructed. In other words, these portraits are a ‘no holds barred’ photo essay on the scars. These women, even without the usual appendages, were outrageously gorgeous. They have, like me, endured an unbelievable ordeal and deserve all the love, praise and celebration in the world. Those scars are their badges of honor, and proof that beauty and wellness can still exist where breasts once lived. They are your and my heroes for courageously baring it all for the intended good of their sisters and humankind.

No doubt, my colleague, as well as the show’s creator and participants, meant for this glamorous expose of the “boob- free” feminine form to be empowering, liberating and normalizing—a kind of “breasts or breast-less . . . I am still woman, hear me roar!” —and to create kinship among strangers who unintentionally belong now to this Amazon-like tribe. I love that the fashion photographer David Jay’s tagline for the show is “breast cancer is not a pink ribbon” and that he feels that putting a pretty pink ribbon on something so horrific is “absurd and dishonest.” So, you would have thought that I would have “fanned” the SCAR Project Facebook page in a nanosecond. I didn’t. In fact, I recoiled in horror and tasted the tears I shed 5 years ago when I shed my own breasts at age 37. Only this time, I was not only crying for the loss of breasts (theirs or mine), a normal physique, or for the shattered illusion of health and longevity most pre-menopausal women still have. I was shaken to my core because of the realization I had that was coming through that gloss: How much longer do we have to tear the breasts off our bodies because we can’t control the epidemic levels of preventable disease in this country? Has breast cancer become so commonplace that the disease itself and it’s consequences are not only tolerated and accepted, but, dare I say it, glamorized? And by glamorizing it, are we normalizing this beast of a disease and losing sight of the fact that sporting a breast-free torso is anything BUT normal for a woman? Is this an acceptable fate for too many of our daughters?

Mammalian breasts evolved to uniquely nurture and nourish offspring and to ensure the survival of the species. In humans they are considered sexually attractive in some cultures—and breast cancer organizations have cleverly tapped into that with the “Save the Ta-Tas” and “I Love Boobies” slogans on t-shirts and gear. But has the subtext of that message been to save breasts only because they are body parts, part of women’s identity, or part of her attractiveness to a mate? What about “saving the ta-tas” for their most profound purpose, that of providing the building blocks of emotional and immunological health for our children, and helping a tiny, dependent human being to mature and fulfill its genetic potential? Is this message being lost or neglected? If so, then no wonder we are losing our breasts by the millions; it is symbolic of the lack of value we place in using and appreciating breasts for their primary function, a function that is the evolutionary REASON for their attractiveness. As generations of women are falsely led to believe that formula is “closer than ever to breast milk” by a culture that predominantly thinks the act of nursing is gross and should be hidden, and refuses to protect expecting and new moms from the booby traps™ that undermine them, are breasts becoming vestigial organs, and becoming diseased because our subconscious cultural attitude is that we don’t need them? Are our breasts are being cut off because we are cut off from them?

Earth Mama Angel Baby will MATCH every dollar donated by individuals, up to $1,000!

With this in mind, I believe we need to rethink our approach and put the glam, the funding and the focus, into PREVENTION, PROTECTION and THRIVING —with human milk and breastfeeding at the forefront. With human milk as a powerful starter, a toxin-free diet and environment, and a healthy dose of exercise, we might actually be able to send this breast-snatching epidemic packing! We, you, can’t afford not to. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women ages 30-50 and the second leading cause for women of all ages.It is also somewhat preventable through lifestyle changes, especially across generations as our DNA coding becomes more robust through the healthy choices of our ancestors. How can it be that more people –more parents –are not aware that they can significantly lower both a mother (59% with a family history, 28% without) and her daughter’s (26-31% lower) breast cancer risk by breastfeeding! What friends, families, dads, partners — even the most “ta-ta” obsessed yet breastfeeding-squeamish — wouldn’t WANT THAT AND FIGHT FOR IT for both mother and baby girl, if they knew about it?

But don’t take our word for it. Here is the best evidence showing the association between breastfeeding and lowering your and your daughter’s breast cancer risk:

Breastfeeding is one of two “lifestyle factors” that is associated with “convincing decreased risk” of breast cancer for all women (family history or not) — exercise is the other.(1)

Breastfeeding is associated with up to a 28% decrease in risk of developing breast cancer at any age (pre- or post-menopausal) for women without a family history of the disease, who breastfed for 12 months or longer. (2)

For women with a family history of breast cancer, breastfeeding is associated with 59% reduced risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer –that’s more than half! (3)

For every 12 months of breastfeeding, a woman can lower her breast cancer risk by 4.3% This is cumulative, so that a mother who has two children and breastfeeds each for 2 years can realize a 17.2% reduction! (4) Some scientists speculate that this is one reason why, in developed countries with lower rates and duration of breastfeeding (like the U.S.), we also see higher rates of breast cancer.

Four Breasts for the Price of Two: Your baby girl’s risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is lowered by 26%-31% if she is breastfed! (5)

Babies are born “hot” with estrogen from their mother (i.e, enlarged genitals) and breastfeeding may have a “cooling” effect that facilitates normal breast-bud development in infancy, reduces the exposure to excessive hormones early in life, and “may have long-term health benefits for hormone-dependent diseases.”Growing evidence suggests that not breastfeeding or using soy-based formulas explains why baby girls have an increased risk of hormone-fueled (hormone-positive) breast cancer later in life. (6)

With favorable statistics like those, it would be wonderful if breastfeeding’s risk-reducing ability would be touted everywhere and breaking down the barriers to breastfeeding would be a major funding priority. To be sure, breast cancer research and support organizations’ tremendous focus on early detection, state-of-the-art treatment and care have given life and hope where before there were none. But there is much more work to be done to get funding and focus on the kind of PREVENTION that is concerned with reducing the toxic load on all of us, and publicizing breastfeeding as the first ingredient in maximizing our chances of how to build a healthy human being. Best for Babes is dedicated to putting the Protection Under Our Noses front-and-center in our fight for wellness and health.We are using donation dollars to Beat the Booby Traps™ that make it nearly impossible for parents to make informed feeding decisions andachieve their personal breastfeeding goals (whatever they may be!) or be provided with donated human milk so that they can give themselves and their children all the bennies that go with it!

So this month, when we are painfully aware of the suffering caused by breast cancer and want to do something about it, let’s give the visibility and dollars to PREVENTION and THRIVING. Let’s create a space and a place for breastfeeding in the public’s awareness of breast cancer using our non-judgmental, positive, evidence-based approach, and our mission to turn up the heat and Beat the Booby Traps™, not women! Let’s provide breast cancer organizations with encouraging language that empowers and gently educates their members and followers: a simple message such as:

“Along with a healthy diet, a toxin-free environment and regular exercise, breastfeeding is a lifestyle decision that can reduce your and your baby daughter’s risk of breast cancer. If you are planning on starting a family or currently expecting, the (name of breast cancer) organization strongly recommends that you get the facts about how to get off to a good start with breastfeeding, and arm yourself with the resources to overcome any challenges and beat any booby traps™. The longer you breastfeed, the better for you and your baby, but any breastfeeding is better than none! In the abscence of breastfeeding, pumped or donated human milk is the next best substitute. “

Let’s make sure that breast cancer organizations have resources for breastfeeding beyond breast cancer — a significant study was just released giving the OK on this one. Let’s make sure they have information on donor milk banks and are joining us in demanding that breast cancer survivors should not have to pay for it. (If I had gone on to have a third baby, I would have used donor milk gladly.) Let’s help them provide more inspiration and information for younger victims and new mothers who have lost some or all of their breasts, including directing them to resources on how to nurture skin-to-skin and supplement (preferably with donated milk) at the breast. Very importantly, let’s recognize and reward those organizations that share our vision and are truly investing in PREVENTION, groups like the Breast Cancer Fund , whose mission is to eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer– YEAH! We are excited about creating an alliance of breast cancer organizations and working with them to cross-promote and fundraise for our common ground.

It’s time we dealt with and healed the divide so that we don’t take one more step closer toward normalizing the “Protection That Used to Be Under Our Noses.” And when you see our rhubarb pink logo, smile and know what it, what we, the Mother of All Causes, authentically stands for: Prevention.

Here’s what you can do right now to help this month, in the coming months and as we gear up for NEXT October:

1. Donate to Best for Babes and continue the fight against the Booby Traps that prevent breastfeeding and human milk’s protection from being attainable for too many moms and babies. Until October 31, 2010 , Earth Mama Angel Baby, themselves a pioneer in keeping toxins out of the mouths of babes big and small, has pledged to match every one of your dollars up to a maximum of $1000! Click here to donate.

2. Help us to make breastfeeding, the Foundation of Human Health, a part of the mainstream breast cancer conversation. Send a link to this post to your local or national breast cancer organization(s) and ask that they include a simple message, like the one above, in their printed and online materials on “How to Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk”. In exchange, Best for Babes will recognize and list them on our Breast Cancer Alliance & Resources page as being a trusted resource for breast cancer prevention. Please email danielle@bestforbabes.org with the contact info of any organization with whom you share this link. We’d love to hear from you!

3. Share this information with your friends and family by posting it to your Facebook page or sending an email. Enroll the media, and be a voice for change!

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!

References:

1. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective Washington DC: AICR 2007 http://www.dietandcancerreport.com

6. Zung A, et al. Breast development in the first 2 years of life: an association with soy-based infant formulas. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008 Feb;46(2):191-5; Setchell KD, et al. Isoflavone content of infant formulas and the metabolic fate of these phytoestrogens in early life. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Dec;68(6 Suppl):1453S-1461S.

7. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective Washington DC: AICR 2007 http://www.dietandcancerreport.com

What wonderful & informative info. I’ve posted this on my personal facebook page as well as on my business page… It breaks my heart to see a pregnant mother unsure if she’s even willing to breastfeed. Formula doesn’t even BEGIN to compare, and to even consider it is a serious problem for her & her baby. My daughter had formula only once in the hospital, she’s 22 mos. old now & still very much attached to breastfeeding. And after reading all this info, I’m very proud she still is. What great benefits for her & I in the long run!! It’s really heart breaking how badly ppl look down on mothers for long term breast feeding!! It shows just how ignorant people really & truly are! Thanks again for all the great info!

Danielle, you have compiled some convincing evidence in a powerful essay. I agree with your frustration that so much attention goes to “events” and so forth, while women are not told about the prevention and protection that breastfeeding provides. I think the breast cancer charities should be shouting this information from the rooftops, and sharing the link to help women find the support they need with breastfeeding. I would love to see this evidence, and the suggestions for cancer charities, repeated for October 2011. Could you write an essay concentrating on this? It would be easier to share. Many of my friends have “run for the cure” etc, and I am afraid that they never read as far as the evidence in your essay when I shared it with them. We have to start getting this information out! Thanks for your passion and hard work!

While I agree with much of this article,I am also against many of the author’s ideas. I was dx with stage II IDC in October of last year at 35 years old. I nursed both of my children for over a year each; in fact, I was still nursing my 15 month old when I was diagnosed. I was healthy, fitter than ever (ran a 10K a month before dx), tested negtaive for the BRCA gene and had little (very distant) family history. Yet I got breast cancer. Maybe it was my environment, my deoderant, the non-organic strawberries I ate…who knows. What I do know is that the treatment I endured eradicated the cancer and saved my life. So I wholeheartedly support the races for the cure because without them maybe herceptin — a ten-year-old wonder drug — wouldn’t have been discovered, resulting in a much grimmer prognosis for me and my aggressive type of cancer. Personally, I was never sad about the prospect of losing a breast due to sexuality or attractiveness; when I hear the slogan “save the ta-tas” I hear a message of prevention through self-exams, mammograms, etc. I don’t think it means, “go have plastic surgery.” It means do what you need to do to save your breasts because no woman should have to endure this kind of painful, radical surgery.
What I know for certain is every woman’s journey — from diagnosis, to treatment, to side effects, to physical and emotional endurance — is so very different and intensely personal. No one has ever questioned my decisions, be they cosmetic or otherwise.
I am now all about prevention, talking up books, organic food, non-toxic products and the like. I am prepared to fiercely protect my own girls at whatever cost…but abandoning support for the CURE for this horrible disease that so many young, healthy, unassuming women (like me!) are cursed with is not the answer. Let survivors (and all women) wear pink, advocate for boob-squishing, whatever they like. Unfortunately, prevention is only half the battle at this point.

Great and powerful information in this well-written essay! I am also very frustrated at the lack of promotion of breastfeeding by breast cancer prevention organizations. The few people that I have asked do not know that breastfeeding can decrease your risk. I know these organizations are non-profit and the cancer fighting organizations earn a lot of money after diagnosis. But for prevention? Breastfeeding and exercise are both cheap/free; no one makes any money off that.

Beautiful, simply beautiful!!! I have, since its inception, been against the U.S. push for Breast Cancer Awareness…because that’s all it’s been – “look, people get breast cancer.” There have not been true prevention and education efforts, as you are suggestions. We need to educate women! There has also been, for over 10 years, a causal link been made between abortions and resultant increased chances of breast cancer. The original research was done through the U.S. government and the results squelched for fear it would be “too politically hot.” Guess what? Talking about what INCREASES risk is not saying that it should be illegalized or someone should therefore make a determination for someone else against it. But women need to understand potential risks when making decisions. I stand united for increased health of women through better education!!!

Abortion? Specifically abortion? I really think your word choice was poor or you are an agenda pushing zealot. Most abortions are D and C and Es– the same procedure used with partial and missed miscarriages(retention of fetal tissue partial or complete) So wouldn’t that say it is more likely to be pregnancy loss or termination.